|
|
Joined:
February 2008
Posts: 15
Location: Miami | Hello gang.
I was reading about the strings used in ovation guitars, and they mention that if we use different gauge strings, a truss adjustment may be require.
Could you please help me learn about truss adjustment? Never done it before.
Thanks!
jcl |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4073
Location: Utah | The truss rod offsets the force of the strings. The strings try to bow the neck, and the truss rod keeps it straight. Heavier strings will have more tension, thus bowing the neck a bit more and making the action too high.
If you tighten the truss rod, it will straighten the neck out a bit, or even give it a reverse bow if you go too far. The goal is to have just the right amount of bow, or relief, in the neck. Other important parts of the setup are the bridge height and the nut height. You don't totally control the action with the truss rod adjustment, but it is an important part of it. If your bridge and nut are already properly setup, then a truss rod tweak now and again is normal.
Truss rod adjustments should be done in very small increments. Something like 1/8 turn, and then another 1/8 turn if it needs it. Then wait overnight before making any more adjustment.
There are a lot of good websites with specific information on how to adjust the setup. This one is one that I happened to have bookmarked, but there are others. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2008
Posts: 15
Location: Miami | God, this fan club is the BEST!
Thanls flysig!
jcl |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2003
Posts: 134
Location: Lakewood, Ohio | Remember, righty tighty/lefty loosey |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | What They said. :) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | What they taught us as inspectors, is that a backward bend is called a bow, and a forward bend is called a warp. Not that it matters much what you call it,as long as you're very careful with the adjustments. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Oh, and I just thought of something else. I have seen guitars with a twist in the neck. No amount of adjusting the truss rod will fix that, but I have had some luck with fixing them. What I do is put very heavy strings on the "backward" side, tighten the truss rod, then tighten the heavy strings, as much as possible. Then wait several weeks. When I put regular strings on, I loosen the truss rod, and SOMETIMES, I get a straight neck. I have done this with a few basket case guitars, and a year later, the necks are still straight. |
|
| |
Truss Rod Adjustment Question
